1900-1901.] 609 



house of Edward Newman, the author of a large book on ferns 

 where I used to go frequently on business. 



Newman's British Ferns was then considered an authority, 

 but is now of little value, his work being entirely taken up with 

 the division of ferns into species, scarcely any of which are now 

 in use with fern growers. 



The hobby still lay dormant, but leaving London, and re- 

 turning to Belfast, I went with my family each year to the Spa, 

 Ballynahinch, in County Down. This is a valley encircled by 

 hills and foliage, with a demesne in the centre. I there saw 

 ferns in plenty, of normal forms. I was delighted, and brought 

 back growing specimens of all I could find. I knew nothing 

 about them, but at once got Moore's Handbook of British 

 Ferns, then the best book on the subject, and which still remains 

 the best for normal forms. 



I often thought of the wall case of ferns in London, and I 

 determined to have one ; so I got three glass doors, and made 

 a case against the yard wall, three feet wide, with shelves on 

 the back for fern pots. I did my own hunting for ferns in 

 other localities ; brought in the leaf mould and sand, did my 

 own potting, and succeeded well. The place, however, was 

 small. 



My hobby was then fairly launched. This was about 1855-6. 



Shorty after I heard that Mr. Thomas Malcomson was grow- 

 ing ferns, so I called on him and introduced myself as also a 

 grower of ferns. He asked me to his house at Fairview on the 

 Crumlin Road to see his collection, and I showed him mine. 

 Having a kindred hobbyist to talk to is always a great help. 

 A friendship was thus formed which was very pleasant, 

 which was cemented by constant fern excursions on all avail- 

 able opportunities, and continued until, in 1859, Mr. Malcomson 

 went to Australia, where he has since resided. His collection 

 of ferns is still extant, in the possession of his brother, Mr. 

 Greer Malcomson, one of the members of this Club. UnfDrtli- 

 nately, for many years past he has not hunted much, if at all. 

 On all occasions when possible to get from business we had 



